Readers stuck at home need books — and community. Here’s how to get both.

If there’s a silver lining to the sudden need to hunker down as the coronavirus upends normal life, it’s that maybe — finally — you’ll have time to read. Provided you have enough books.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get new reading material without leaving the house, and to stay engaged with the bookish community even as libraries and bookstores shut their doors. Here’s a guide.

Take advantage of free library resources like OverDrive: Many libraries are closed until further notice, but you can still tap into their tools — even if you don’t have a library card. OverDrive, a company that works with thousands of libraries around the country, offers an “instant digital card.” Sign up and start browsing an impressive collection of e-books and audiobooks.

OverDrive’s Libby app makes it easy to download your picks to whatever device you prefer: Stream an audiobook on your Google Home, for example, or send a book to your tablet or Kindle. Beware that there aren’t unlimited digital copies, so there’s often a waiting list for popular titles. Once your request comes in, you’ll typically have access for seven to 21 days.

Ramiro Salazar, president of the Public Library Association and director of the San Antonio Public Library, says libraries have a “history of rising to the occasion, and that’s what we’re doing right now.” He asked his staff to look, for example, into expanding their books-by-mail program, a longtime service that provides books to those who are homebound. And he said libraries nationwide are working to shorten wait times by increasing the number of digital books available to patrons.

Order from your favorite indie bookstore: On March 23, Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Mich., reported that in the previous few days, customers had placed more than 800 online orders — compared to a typical five to 10 a day. Like many independent bookstores, it had turned exclusively to online sales. The small staff was working to process web orders as quickly as possible and thanked customers for giving them a “fighting chance” to weather the unexpected circumstances.

Around the country, many indies are offering local shipping free or for a nominal fee in hopes of luring extra business. In Washington, Loyalty Bookstore implemented curbside pickup and $2 shipping. In addition to new pickup and delivery options, East City Bookshop created a hotline that readers can call or text for recommendations. And Capitol Hill Books is scheduling in-person visits for up to four people at a time, as well as free domestic shipping.

Another option is bookshop.org, a recently launched website that shares proceeds with independent bookstores.

Trade physical books for audiobooks: Even if you don’t prefer listening to reading, you’re probably familiar with Audible: The Amazon-owned audiobook company has a catalog of nearly 500,000 easy-to-download options, from Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club picks to classics. You can listen on a wide array of devices, or even in a web browser. A $14.95 monthly membership includes any title, plus two Audible Originals.

Another option is Libro.fm, which offers more than 150,000 digital audiobooks of all genres. Membership costs about $15 a month. When you sign up, you’ll select the independent bookstore you want your purchases to support, and typically, the company splits the profits with that shop. Right now, all proceeds are going to the bookstores.

Both Audible and Libro.fm supply ample instructions, and getting started requires little more than a working device and an eager reader.

Click over to websites that provide free books: For decades, Project Gutenberg has made copyright-free e-books available on the internet. Don’t expect to find any current best sellers, but there’s a rich selection of more than 60,000 older titles that you can download to your device or read in your web browser. The site’s “top 100” list includes A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Library of Congress also offers a selection of free classics you can read online. Many of the choices are kid- and adventure-oriented, like Jack and the Beanstalk and Treasure Island.

Attend a virtual book talk: In-person events are on hold, but bookstores are still finding creative ways for authors to engage with readers. Hilary Leichter was scheduled to talk about her new novel Temporary at Brooklyn-based Books Are Magic the same day the shop canceled all March events, for example, so staffers pivoted to a virtual version. The shop uploaded a fun, chatty conversation with Leichter (and her ukulele) to its Instagram page.

Another example of making the best of disrupted plans: Anne Bogel, the popular blogger behind Modern Mrs. Darcy, had to cancel her tour to promote her latest book. So she’s launching the Stay at Home Book Tour, which kicked off March 23 and includes talks by authors such as Kimmery Martin and Ariel Lawhon. No selfies or signing, she says, but the events will be free and open to the first 500 people who log on via the video conferencing platform Zoom.

Participate in an online book club: No commute is too long in virtual book-club land. Aside from checking what your local library and bookstores are offering, consider more global options. The Quarantine Book Club, for example, popped up to host online discussions with authors. And the writer Yiyun Li is hosting a virtual club to discuss Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace — follow along at apublicspace.org.

Live-stream story time: There are many options for children, too. Penguin Kids is hosting authors and illustrators who will read their stories on Instagram each weekday at 11 a.m., and the Brooklyn Public Library is live-streaming their story time in the afternoon and again before bedtime. Join on the library’s Facebook page or website.

In Ohio, the superintendent of Medina City Schools is live-streaming story time from his YouTube channel. The books — like Ferida Wolff’s Is a Worry Worrying You? — are selected to provide kids with support during such unusual times.

It’s also a chance for A-listers to read you a story: Actresses Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner launched #SaveWithStories, a charity-driven initiative in which celebrities read children’s books on Instagram. Brie Larson, for example, read Giraffes Can’t Dance, while Reese Witherspoon delivered a spirited rendition of Uni the Unicorn. Donations will help the nonprofits Save the Children and No Kid Hungry ensure that kids have access to meals during school closures.